MADISON, Wis. – As Sunday's match wore on, it became readily apparent that the No. 30 William & Mary women's tennis team would need a come-from-behind three-set win to post its second-straight Big Ten opponent. Cue sophomore Olivia Thaler, who stepped into a starring role for the Tribe (10-4), and posted a three-set win at the No. 5 singles position to push the Green and Gold's win streak to four with a 4-3 triumph at Wisconsin (3-8).
 
After taking the doubles point and then winning two of the first three singles matches off the court, the Tribe led the Badgers, 3-1. The balance of the match-up came down to a trio of three-setters, all of which Wisconsin won the opening set, at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5.
 
With seniors Elizaveta Nemchinov and Julia Casselbury going to third-set tiebreakers, it was Thaler who put to rest any thoughts of a Wisconsin rally. After dropping the opening set to Kelsey Grambeau, 6-2, the Tribe sophomore roared back in the second, dropping just one game on the way to a 6-1 win. Thaler jumped on top in the third set and road it to a 6-4 victory. She recorded her second match clincher in the last four contests and her ninth win overall on the year.
 
The Green and Gold took the early lead with victories at the top two doubles positions. After the Badgers won at the third spot, junior Marie Faure and Nemchinov evened things with their second triumph in as many days at No. 1. The Tribe pairing upended Lauren Chypyha and Kendall Kirsch, 6-2, to improved to 6-4 on the year. Sophomore Marie Groener and freshman Laruen Goodman clinched the initial point of the match, downing Ekaterina Stepanova and Sydney Rider, 6-4, at the second slot. The Tribe duo pushed its ledger to 7-2.
 
Groener won her third-straight match and second of the weekend, dropping just three games in pushing the Tribe lead to 2-0. She topped Lauren Burich, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 6 to even her season ledger at 11-11.
 
After a Wisconsin win at No. 2, Goodman brought the Tribe to the brink of a team triumph, claiming the third spot with her fourth win in the last five matches. She defeated Maria Avgerinos, 6-2, 7-6 (6), to improve to 11-6 on the season.
 
At the top singles post, Nemchinov dropped a closely contested match-up of nationally-ranked foes. Wisconsin's Lauren Chypyha, who is ranked No. 44 nationally, took the opening set 6-4, before the Tribe senior, sporting a No. 89 ranking, claimed the second, 7-5. The Badger player outslated Nemchinov in a third-set super tiebreaker, 7-6 (1).

Casselbury dropped a close third-set tiebreaker at No. 4 in the final match on court. Kirsch took the first set, 6-4, before the Tribe senior rallied back with a convincing 6-1 triumph in the second. Kirsch eked out a 9-7 victory over Casselbury in the third-set tiebreaker to provide the final margin.
 
The Tribe will have a week off before returning to action with two matches at home, March 18-20. W&M welcomes East Carolina to Williamsburg on Friday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m., before hosting Marshall on Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m. Both matches will be played outdoors at the Millie West Tennis Facility, weather permitting.
 
#30 William & Mary 4, Wisconsin 3
Singles
No. 1 – #44 Lauren Chypyha (Wisconsin) def. #89 Elizaveta Nemchinov (W&M) – 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (1)
No. 2 – Ekaterina Stepanova (Wisconsin) def. Marie Faure (W&M) – 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 – Lauren Goodman (W&M) def. Maria Avgerinos (Wisconsin) – 6-2, 7-6 (6)
No. 4 – Kendall Kirsch (Wisconsin) def. Julia Casselbury (W&M) – 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7)
No. 5 – Olivia Thaler (W&M) def. Kelsey Grambeau (Wisconsin) – 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
No. 6 – Maria Groener (W&M) def. Lauren Burich (Wisconsin) – 6-2, 6-1
Finishing Order:  6, 2, 3, 5*, 1, 4
 
Doubles
No. 1 – Faure/Nemchinov (W&M) def. Chypyha/Kirsch (Wisconsin) – 6-2
No. 2 – Goodman/Groener (W&M) def. Stepanova/Rider (Wisconsin) – 6-4
No. 3 – Grambeau/Burich (Wisconsin) def. Casselbury/Wunescher (W&M) – 6-0
Finishing Order: 3, 1, 2*